Top diplomats from several European countries, Ukraine and the United States were scheduled to meet in London for talks on Wednesday, but Rubio pulled out hours after Zelensky ruled out recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Rubio's no show prompted a broader meeting of foreign ministers from Ukraine, Britain, France and Germany to be canceled, although talks continued at a lower level, the Reuters news agency reported.
US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Rubio would remain in Washington, and that retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine, would lead the American delegation.
The decision followed Zelensky’s declaration that acknowledging Russian sovereignty over Crimea would violate Ukraine’s constitution and therefore was "impossible."
Last week in Paris, Rubio outlined a US proposal that would freeze the front line, exclude Ukraine from NATO membership, recognize Crimea as Russian territory and place the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant under US control, according to reports
Those ideas could still be tabled in London, French and British officials said, though Kyiv insists any deal must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Speaking ahead of the talks, Zelensky said Ukraine is prepared for direct negotiations with Russia once a ceasefire is in place, but will not accept “legal recognition of the occupation of Ukrainian lands.”
He also expressed readiness to meet with US President Donald Trump in Rome on Saturday, after the funeral of Pope Francis, to discuss the peace process.
Trump envoy to visit Moscow
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special diplomatic envoy, will travel to Moscow for a fourth round of consultations with Kremlin officials later this week, US sources said. Washington hopes to broker a settlement even as it signals that future military aid to Kyiv could hinge on progress at the negotiating table.
London’s meeting comes amid unease in European capitals over what diplomats call Washington’s “front-loaded concessions” to Russia.
“We will listen to the US ideas, but any plan must align with the UN Charter,” a French official said.
Despite intensified shuttle diplomacy, substantial gaps remain: Moscow demands demilitarization of Ukraine and continued “security zones,” while Kyiv insists on a full Russian withdrawal and legally binding security guarantees.
A senior European diplomat described the London talks as “an exploratory round” rather than a decisive negotiation.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP, IAR, Reuters